Package having convertible header for hanging

ABSTRACT

A package for containing merchandise for display for sale characterized by a header adapted for supporting the package by hanging from either a hook-type or loop-type hanging support. The header has a centrally disposed hole immediately adaptable for hanging the package from a hook-type hanger support. However, the header is also provided with a punch-out segment generally in the form of a J which is easily removed to convert the header to adapt it for hanging from a loop-type hanger support.

United States Patent Olson Dec. 17, 1974 PACKAGE HAVING CONVERTIBLE HEADER FOR HANGING [75] Inventor: Elmer I. Olson, Golden Valley,

Minn.

[73] Assignee: Durkee-Atwood Company,

Minneapolis, Minn.

[22] Filed: July 30, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 383,825

[52] US. Cl. 206/527, 206/806 [51] Int. Cl 865d 5/44 [58] Field of Search 206/527, 806

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,570.665 3/1971 Houston et al. 206/527 3,650,442 3/1972 Berns 206/806 Primary ExaminerLconard Summer 5 7 ABSTRACT A package for containing merchandise for display for sale characterized by a header adapted for supporting the package by hanging from either a hook-type or loop-type hanging support. The header has a centrally disposed hole immediately adaptable for hanging the package from a hook-type hanger support. However, the header is also provided with a punch-out segment generally in the form of a J which is easily removed to convert the header to adapt it for hanging from a loop-type hanger support.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PACKAGE HAVING CONVERTIBLE HEADER FOR HANGING This invention relates to packages of the type provided with a top header for hanging support of the package for display for sale of the merchandise contained therein. In particular, the invention is directed to a mercandise package having a header especially adapted for hanging from a hook-type hanger support but also convertible for hanging from a loop-type hanger support.

It is common practice to display merchandise for sale in packages provided with a top header for suspension from a hanger support. Numerous types of merchandise are so displayed for sale in boxes, pouches, envelopes, and the like, all having in common the feature of a top strip of material, usually rigid or semi-rigid, referred to as the header, and provided with a central opening or hook member for suspension of the package from a display rack. In some instances, manufacturers and distributors provide their own distinctive display racks. In this instance, the headers on packages of their own merchandise are usually especially adapted for use with their own display racks. Some merchants prefer to use display racks already in their places of business. If the merchant is already equipped with display racks having loop-type hanger supports, he is often reluctant to take on a line of merchandise whose packaging is not adapted to his existing equipment.

The present invention is directed to a package having a header especially adapted to use with a display rack having a hook'type hanger support, but easily convertible to use on a display rack having a loop-type hanger support. Headers having a simple central opening for hanging on a hook-type hanger tend to be stronger and not so easily accidentally dislodged from the hanger. The header of the present invention thus has maximum strength when used in its original condition. However, the header is simply and easily converted for hanging on a closed loop hanger while maintaining much of the original strength of the header.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which corresponding parts are identified by the same numerals and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the top portion of a package having a header according to the present invention shown in its original condition;

FIG. 2 is a similar front elevation showing the header with the punch-out portion removed;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation partly in section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a closed loop-type hanger support showing a plurality of packages in end elevation hanging thereon; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a hook-type hanger support with a number of packages in side elevation hanging thereon.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, there are shown two types of package hanger supports in widespread common use. In FIG. 4, there is shown a merchandise display rack, indicated generally at 10, having a U-shaped wire loop 11 which lies generally in a vertical plane and the free ends of whose legs are secured in a base 12 secured to a wall 13 or similar vertical supporting structure. A plurality of packages 14 are suspended from the elongated lower generally horizontal leg of display rack by means of headers 15. Because the wire loop 11 is closed, header 15 of necessity must have a channel leading to a central opening in order that the header may be engaged with the wire loop 11 without disengagement of the legs of the wire loop.

FIG. 5 shows the other type of display rack in common use. This rack, indicated generally at 20, comprises an elongated generally horizontal rod 21 projecting from a base 22 secured to a wall 23 or similar structure. The free end of rod 21 of this hook-type hanger support is usually slightly upturned to retain the merchandise packages thereon. The packages 24 are suspended from the rod 21 by virtue of headers 25. Headers 25 need only be provided with a central opening which may be passed over the free end of rod 21.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a package 30 having a header 31 according to the present invention is shown in detail. As best seen in FIG. 3, package 30 is in the form of a box having a front wall 32, a back wall 33, and a top wall 34 in addition to the usual end and bottom walls. The header 31 extends upward from and constitutes an extension of the top wall closure 34, which has a flap 35 which extends inside the box and engages the inside surface of front wall 32 adjacent its top edge. Although shown for purposes of illustration in the form of a box, the package 30 might also be a bag, pouch or envelope, and the box may be of a wide variety of sizes and shapes. The header need not be integral with and formed from the same material as the package it supports, as shown, but may be made of different material. For example, if the merchandise were contained in a flexible plastic bag, then the header would necessarily have to be stiffer and most likely formed from paper or light cardboard, or the like. On the other hand, when the package 30 is itself formed from material such that it is rigid or semi-rigid, then the header conveniently is formed from that same material.

Header 31 is provided with a central opening 36, desirably equally disposed between the free end edges of the header, to adapt it for hanging on a hook-type hanger such as that of FIG. 5. As shown, header 31 is rectangular and opening 36 is desirably but not necessarily circular and is of a size to permit the header to easily be slipped over the end of rod 21 of display rack 20. In order to adapt the header for alternative hanging from a closed loop hanger support, as shown in FIG. 4, there is provided a punchout section 37 (FIG. 1). It will be noted that in a preferred embodiment the punch-out section is generally in the form of a J and extends from the bottom edge of opening 36 in an arcuate path 38 downwardly and outwardly away from opening 36 and thence upwardly to the free top edge of header 31 in a generally vertical path 39 which is spaced from central opening 36. The punch-out section 37 is formed by incising, rouletting or perforating the header 31 into spaced apart rows forming borders of the punch-out section along the path so that the section 37 may easily be removed. For example, as illustrated, the header may be incised along the predominant portion of the borders of the punch-out section as at all points along the path except those between adjacent ends of the incisions, as indicated by short unincised spaces 40 and 41 which are left undisturbed. The incisions are desirably equally spaced apart far enough to permit a wire of the diameter of that forming loop 11 of display rack 10 to pass through the channel 42 resulting when the the wire of loop 11 is of larger diameter than the width of channel 42, slight deformation of the header between channel 42 and opening 36 will permit the wire to pass along channel 42 into engagement with the central opening 36.

It will readily be seen that the header as shown in FIG. 1 with the punch-out section 37 undisturbed is especially adapted for use on a display rack such as that of FIG. 5, the header having substantially as much strength as if the punch-out section were not there. At the same time, the package is easily converted to hanging on a loop-type rack, as shown in FIG. 4, simply by punching out section 37. Because of the construction of the header and the path of channel 42, the strength of the header is virtually undiminished.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of'this invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by way of example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A package for containing merchandise having a convertible header for suspending the package for storage and display, said header comprising a piece of at least semi-rigid sheet material connected to said package adjacent the edge thereof and characterized by:

A. an opening in said header spaced from the top edge thereof and adapted to engage the elongated generally horizontal hanger support of a display rack,

B. a punch-out section in said header bounded by a pair of spaced apart weakened borders extending from the lower portion of said opening to a free edge of the header, and

C. said punch-out section being easily severable from the header to produce a channel in the header between said spaced apart borders, whereby said header is convertible for hanging from either hook type or closed loop-type hanger supports.

2. A package according to claim 1 further characterized in'that the borders of said punch-out section are incised along the predominant portion of their lengths, short segments of unincised header separating the ends of adjacent incisions.

3. A package according to claim 1 furthercharacterized in that said header is generally rectangular and said punch-out section is generally J-shaped extending from the bottom edge of said opening in an arcuate path downwardly and outwardly from said opening and then spaced from the opening vertically to the top edge of the header.

4. A package according to claim I further characterized in that the borders of the punch-out section are equally spaced apart. 7

5. A package according to claim 1 further characterized in that said opening is centrally disposed between free edges of the header.

6. A package according to claim 1 further characterized in that said opening is of circular configuration.

7. A package according to claim 1 further character ized in that said header is formed from the same material as the package it supports.

8. A package according to claim 7 further characterized in that said header is integral with the package.

9. A package according to claim 7 further characterized in that said material is carboard.

10. A package according to claim 1 further characterized in that:

A. said header is generally rectangular and said opening is centrally disposed between the end edges of the header,

B. said opening is generally circular and said punchout section is generally J-shaped extending from the bottom edge of the opening in an arcuate path downwardly and outwardly from the. opening and then spaced from the opening vertically to the top edge of the header, and

C. the borders of the punch-out section are equally spaced apart and are incised along the predominant portion of their lengths, short segments of unincised header separating the ends of adjacent incisionsv 3 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTEFICATE OF CORRECTION patent 3,854,584 Dated December 17, 1974 Inventor(5) Elmer I. 015011 in the above-identified patent It is certified that error appears Treated as shown below:

and that said Letters Patent are hereby co Column 4, line 26, "'carboard" should be -cardb oard--.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of February 1975.

(SEAL) Attest C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks 

1. A package for containing merchandise having a convertible header for suspending the package for storage and display, said header comprising a piece of at least semi-rigid sheet material connected to said package adjacent the edge thereof and characterized by: A. an opening in said header spaced from the top edge thereof and adapted to engage the elongated generally horizontal hanger support of a display rack, B. a punch-out section in said header bounded by a pair of spaced apart weakened borders extending from the lower portion of said opening to a free edge of the header, and C. said punch-out section being easily severable from the header to produce a channel in the header between said spaced apart borders, whereby said header is convertible for hanging from either hooktype or closed loop-type hanger supports.
 2. A package according to claim 1 further characterized in that the borders of said punch-out section are incised along the predominant portion of their lengths, short segments of unincised header separating the ends of adjacent incisions.
 3. A package according to claim 1 further characterized in that said header is generally rectangular and said punch-out section is generally J-shaped extending from the bottom edge of said opening in an arcuate path downwardly and outwardly from said opening and then spaced from the opening vertically to the top edge of the header.
 4. A package according to claim 1 further characterized in that the borders of the punch-out section are equally spaced apart.
 5. A package according to claim 1 further characterized in that said opening is centrally disposed between free edges of the header.
 6. A package according to claim 1 further characterized in that said opening is of circular configuration.
 7. A package according to claim 1 further characterized in that said header is formed from the same material as the package it supports.
 8. A package according to claim 7 further characterized in that said header is integral with the package.
 9. A package according to claim 7 further characterized in that said material is carboard.
 10. A package according to claim 1 further characterized in that: A. said header is generally rectangular and said opening is centrally disposed between the end edges of the header, B. said opening is generally circular and said punch-out section is generally J-shaped extending from the bottom edge of the opening in an arcuate path downwardly and outwardly from the opening and then spaced from the opening vertically to the top edge of the header, and C. the borders of the punch-out section are equally spaced apart and are incised along the predominant portion of their lengths, short segments of unincised header separating the ends of adjacent incisions. 